The Story of Art Without Men, by Katy Hessel  Selected by N.E.W. member Deborah Peeples.

“It’s a wonderful survey of women artists, many of whom I knew nothing about. Folks may be familiar with the author through The Great Women Artists Podcast. The book is organized chronologically, beginning with the Renaissance, placing the artists, and art movements into historical context. The book is engagingly written and there are beautiful photos of almost every included artist’s work, but it’s handy to sit at a computer and scroll through additional images. A must for every artist’s library! “

“One of my longtime favorite art books,” says –Willa Vennema is about Odilon Redon Odilon Redon by Roseline Bacou. Redon is a French artist (1840-1916) who worked in black and white for most of his life but then started working in color in his later years. This book focuses on his pastels and his portraits, floral works, and some narrative works. I love Redon’s use of rich jewel-toned colors. His floral works are composed of just a vase with interesting floral arrangements— no setting to distract from the subject.

Kay Hartung just finished a great biography/art book about Ruth Asawa. Everything She Touched: The Life of Ruth Asawa

“I always liked her work and recently saw her exhibit at the Whitney Museum. She was really innovative and despite obstacles like being in an internment camp during WWII she pursued her vision of being an artist as well as raising a family of 6 children. She was also an activist and pushed for a public art high school to be established in San Francisco, worked on projects with children, and created public sculpture. She was an all-around good person and I was very inspired.” 
Everything She Touched: is the story of a woman who wielded imagination and hope in the face of intolerance and who transformed everything she touched into art.

I fell in love with art from Africa years ago. Many everyday objects were equal parts functional and artistic. I was startled when I first saw El Anatsui’s glorious, golden-colored, huge, draped wall pieces, and discovered they were made of the soda can flip tops gathered from street trash. This was some of the first art using recycled objects I had seen. El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa gives a broader view of this exceptionally talented artist. 

Every year or so, or other times when I am sluggish getting into the studio, I pick up Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit. As a dancer and choreographer, she explores how ritual and routine nourish creativity. That, dependably gets me going again. Tharp encourages ways for you to create and stick to a routine that endures.

I thoroughly relished immersing myself in “The Creative Act: A Way of Being” by Rick Rubin. I opted for the Audible version, and the audio quality surpassed expectations, likely crafted in a top-tier studio. Rubin, serving as the narrator, evidently poured considerable dedication into articulating his work authentically. His resonant and composed voice lent credence to the book’s essence. Brimming with inspirational quotes and numerous moments of enlightenment, I’m confident you’ll glean a wealth of insight from this remarkable book.

“All that matters is that you are making something you love, to the best of your ability, here and now.”

“We’re all different and we’re all imperfect, and the imperfections are what makes each of us and our work interesting.”